Oil or grease on new AR15...

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SilentStalker

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2006
Messages
1,588
Location
Somewhere in the U.S., London, or Australia
Would you guys use grease or oil on my new Daniel Defense v5 LW? I have used a mixture of stuff on some of my less expensive ones but I have been told that grease can cause wear. So, before I go and start prematurely wearing this one out LOL I thought I would get some feedback or thoughts on what others would do. If you do use grease then what kind and where? If oil, again, what kind do you use and where? Lately I have been using some Rem Oil in all of the normal places but sometimes I wonder if this is enough especially for things like long term storage, bolts, slides etc. I mean regular oil does not seem to last long on the slides of my handguns and has made me wonder about function at times. I have never had any problems but am just wondering if I am not lubing enough.
 
CLP or LSA. CLP (Cleaner Lubricant Preservative) is made by Safariland and is definitely easier to find. I think I've seen it at Wal-Mart even.
 
RemOil definitely isn't the best lube you could be using. Like everyone else said, CLP is always a good choice. FWIW, when I had an AR I used CLP on the entire bolt carrier group and also put a very small amount of moly grease on the four carrier guide rails. Never saw any premature wear happening, but I'm sure it's possible.

IMHO, any lube will work fine as long as you reapply it often enough depending on how long it continues to lubricate.
 
The trouble with CLP is that it will evaporate and cook off. I use Slip 2000 EWL and it neither evaporates nor cooks off. It's also odorless.

I'd avoid using grease. It may be fine if you keep your AR meticulously clean, but if you're going to subject your AR to harsh conditions or may go thousands of rounds between cleanings, grease can and will turn into an abrasive if it becomes contaminated with mud and sand. Grease also fails to provide a medium which allows the action to displace crud, which a liquid lubricant does do.
 
I like Tetra Lube. I do clean my rifles every 3-5 hundred rounds, and I don't get sand or dirt into them. The action stays super slick with the Tetra and cleaning is easy as nothing seems to stick. I can't speak to how Tetra may work under neglectful care or combat conditions, but as lube for a range / competition gun, I like it alot.

I tried Slip 2000 EWL and didn't like it at all. It made my ARs' actions feel "scrapey" like they were lubed with water instead of oil. I also found I had carbon baking hard on my bolt tails. I went back to Tetra.

I use Break Free CLP in the bores of my guns... 2 or 3 wet patches after shooting and 2 dry patches before shooting. I also sometimes add a little Tetra to the BCG before leaving to go shoot if they look dry.
 
Oil. Breakfree CLP works fine and is cheap.

Yes, the gas will burn off the oil on the bolt. Just keep adding more CL and the AR will keep running.

BSW
 
So, you guys are saying if I go to the range and shoot say only 200 rounds I can get by with just cleaning wig CLP? I mean not doing a full out clean with Hoppes or anything like that? Hmmmm. I always cleaned after a range trip no matter how many rounds I shot! Is that bad? I don't want to be cleaning too much.
 
So, you guys are saying if I go to the range and shoot say only 200 rounds I can get by with just cleaning wig CLP?
Click to expand...

200 or 20,000 rounds, CLP will keep your rifle running. Accuracy is probably going to fall off after a few thousand rounds if you never use a copper remover, but don't worry about that until after you've burned a couple cases of ammo.

Just keep it wet with CLP and it will run.

BSW
 
I'd avoid using grease. It may be fine if you keep your AR meticulously clean,
Click to expand...

I think this is a fair statement,I use gun butter(grease)on bolt and FP10 on other moving parts,however I clean it often and she operates super smooth never a burp.If you don't like to clean use some type of oil often.
As for wear if you don't clean then they will wear at a greater rate for the average shooter it will make little difference.
 
IMHO, any lube will work fine as long as you reapply it often enough ...
Click to expand...
. I agree with turtlephish

I used to use CLP and other stuff in small bottle$ - then I went to motor oil or ATF and had no issues with my AR in the carbine courses I took both winter and summer. Same thing with all my other guns.

I think of my ar not as a space shuttle requiring a white room and microscopic inspection after every single use but more as a daily driver - I expect it to work anytime I get in - clean\dirty and it may go long periods with a wash or oil change but it does get whats needed occasionally though little more.
 
It doesn't matter if you use oil or grease. But don't use both oil and grease. Oil turns grease into a milk like substance. Both oil and grease will cause dirt to accumulate in your gun. Powder residue and other foreign materials are going to accumulate in your gun if you use it. Grease will hold more dirt because it is thicker.

Unless you are storing your gun don't oil the inside of the barrel. When oil burns it creates carbon deposits. Carbon deposits will destroy the accuracy of your gun.
 
I use what ever I have available to me at the time. Some times it's Gunslick, Rem oil, motor oil and even corn/canola oil (smells great after a few mags). I've ragged out some semi autos (rimfire and centerfire) and as long as they stay wet and get a little TLC on occasions I've found they really don't care what the label says and will continue to work well. FYI if you and your rifle spend alot of time in dusty conditions (on a farm during plow time or pick time) you might want to clean a little more often to keep it running smooth.
 
Oil is considered the lubricant of choice for AR platform rifles.

But, the axiom for M1 Garands is "If it rotates, oil it, if it slides, grease it".

I have had good luck with a little grease on the sliding surfaces of the bolt carrier. But it is easier to squirt a little oil onto the sliding surfaces without disassembling the rifle.

A point to remember, about any lubricant will eventually evaporate during long term storage. Grease will become thick and stiff. Oil just disappears. Lubricate that AR after a long term storage period.
 
Oil

I always cleaned after a range trip no matter how many rounds I shot! Is that bad? I don't want to be cleaning too much.
Click to expand...

Cleaning is good, not sure you can clean too much. Just be careful on the crown and besure to clean your gas tube every once in a while. (with the long pipe cleaners)

Jim
 
I rarely clean the bore on an AR. I frequently clean the action, bolt, carrier, etc. Mobil 1 for lube. I consider CLP expensive to use on a regular basis when there are better cheaper products. However, I do bring CLP to matches so I only have to carry one bottle instead of 2.

Oh, I have never cleaned the gas tube. I figure if 1000's of psi of hot gas do not clean it out, I can't either.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Oil or grease to lube M1 Carbine?
Replies
19
Views
6K
GarandOwner
G
G
  • Locked
AK47 lubrication - grease or oil?
Replies
11
Views
1K
wally
wally
S
  • Locked
Do you grease or oil the bolt on your bolt guns..?
2
Replies
30
Views
26K
Life During Wartime
L
R
  • Locked
Grease for Garands?
2
Replies
28
Views
3K
Swampy
S
dak0ta
  • Locked
Oiling the Bolt of a Rimfire
Replies
4
Views
447
Slamfire
Slamfire
Back
Top